News and Profiles
FOOD AND
NUTRITION
WIC
Program Provides Healthy Options for Women at
Risk
A pregnant woman having her first
child may have questions about her ever-changing body.
She may also want to know how her actions are affecting
her baby and what food and nutrition resources are
available to her.
 more...
Red Cross/Meals on Wheels
Partnership Thrives in Council
Bluffs
Karen McPartland, a longtime
volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Council Bluffs, Iowa,
delivers hot midday meals to homebound residents every
Tuesday from 11:30 to 1:00. Although it might seem
small, this weekly act touches the lives of many people.
more...
When it Comes to Meals, San
Gabriel Valley Volunteers Deliver
The San
Gabriel Valley (CA) Chapter of the American Red Cross is
one of many chapters that provide meals to homebound
clients. Unlike many, it has provided this service for
the past quarter century, serving around 36,000 meals
every year.
more...
Good Food and Great Service --
Meals on Wheels in the Finger Lakes
Seniors in Seneca Falls, NY, have kept
their sense of independence for 21 years thanks to the
Meals on Wheels program and nearly 100 volunteers from
American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes. Northern Seneca
County residents enrolled in the meals program receive a
hand-delivered lunch and dinner every weekday by Red
Cross volunteers.
more...
American Red Cross in the
Finger Lakes Provides Treats without Tricks at Halloween
Brunch for Seniors
A railroad man and
Raggedy Ann came together for a bite to eat during last
October's national Make a Difference Day. In Seneca
Falls, NY, the Meals on Wheels Program of the American
Red Cross in the Finger Lakes and the Office for the
Aging cosponsored their first Halloween Brunch for
seniors.
more...
Ideas for the Holidays:
Reaching Out to Your Community
For many of
us, it's just not the holidays without the traditional
home-cooked meal, complete with all the trimmings. A
turkey or goose, cooked to perfection, with cranberry
sauce, vegetables and hot rolls piled high. The fact of
the matter is, though, not every family has the
resources for such a feast. The following American Red
Cross chapters exemplify the spirit of giving that we
cherish so much, especially around the holidays. Each
chapter is an inspiration and an example to all of us to
show that when you give a little of yourself, the
rewards are often great.
more...
Meals on Wheels Association of
America: 2001 Conference Highlights
On
November 14, 2001, American Red Cross chapter
representatives from across the country met in Kansas
City, Mo., for the Meals on Wheels Association of
America (MOWAA) Conference.
more...
March for Meals Campaign - So
No Senior Goes to Bed Hungry
March 2002
celebrates the 30th anniversary of the inclusion of
senior meal programs in the Older Americans Act. This
milestone signified the federal government's support of
senior nutrition programs.
more...
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HOMELESS
Red Cross Shelter Generates Circle of
Kindness
Defenseless and hungry, a
homeless mother with three children is stranded on the
streets. Since her eviction, she uses the concrete as a
resting place and the awning of a local barber shop for
shelter. Once she buys food for her children, her money
will be gone and she will have nowhere to turn for help.
The R.J. Montgomery Emergency Homeless Shelter, which is
part of the American Red Cross Pikes Peak Chapter
(located in Colorado Springs, Colo.), wants to give
homeless people a safe place to turn.
more...
Joy and Sadness in Homeless
Children's Artwork
When Vanessa walked
into the homeless shelter's teen center, art teacher
Megan Prescott remembered her immediately. Megan had
been a substitute teacher at Woodrow Wilson Middle
School and she recalled that Vanessa was talented at
drawing and excited about art, dance, and music. Vanessa
is one of many homeless young people who gather once a
week for art classes at the Family Shelter run by the
Middlesex County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
more...
Devoted Doctor Joins Red Cross
to Help Homeless Children
Homeless
children often have difficulty getting the medical care
they need. Potentially more vulnerable to disease
because of poor nutrition, lack of immunizations, and
crowded living conditions in shelters, homeless children
are among those most in need of medical care but they
may receive the least. Those who live on the street may
be the most vulnerable of all. Enter Dr. Rene Bartos, a
Tucson pediatrician who has teamed up with the
Children's Health Program of the American Red Cross
Southern Arizona Chapter.
more...
Computer Learning Center Helps
Homeless Children Keep Up
In the
ever-changing, fast-paced world of technology it is even
more essential that the youth of today be prepared to
meet the challenges of a computer-saturated world.
more...
An Oasis for Homeless Families
in Dayton, Ohio
When Chime Ross was
released from the Marysville (Ohio) Correctional
Facility in 1997, she never dreamed that in three years
she would be named Woman of the Year by Dayton's
Metropolitan Civic Women Society.
more...
Willamette Chapter Helps
Homeless Education Program Blossom
Everyday thousands of children in the
state of Oregon are homeless. Like the Ortiz girls,
high-schoolers who were homeless for 2 ½ years as a
result of domestic violence.
more...
Standing Firm Again - Homeless
Families Find the Strength to Change
"Home
is where the heart is." It sounds clichéd, but for those
families who suddenly find themselves without a place to
sleep, without a home, the saying takes on a whole new
meaning. The Middlesex County Chapter of the American
Red Cross, located in Middletown, CT, is helping these
families with some of the most basic of needs.
more...
A Hand Up, Not a Handout -
Homeless Assistance at the Rock River Chapter
The Rock River Chapter of the American
Red Cross began serving the homeless of Rockford, IL,
when the city realized it could not meet the need on its
own. First opened in 1988 and relocated four times, the
chapter's homeless shelter provides guests with a place
to stay when they have nowhere else to go.
more...
Lower Bucks County Chapter of
the American Red Cross Homeless Shelter Program
The Lower Bucks County Chapter of the
American Red Cross Homeless Shelter program provides
three meals a day, a cot, pillow, linens, shower
facilities, personal hygiene supplies and intensive case
management services free of charge to single men and
single women as well as homeless parents and their
children. All residents are at or below the federal
poverty guidelines.
more...
Strength in Community: The
American Red Cross Responds to Homelessness in the 21st
Century
Charlene Hardy looks forward to
the day when she will finally know what it feels like to
put a key in the door to her very own apartment. She is
a resident of the Family Respite Center, a facility that
houses 91 homeless mothers and their children in midtown
Manhattan and is operated by the American Red Cross in
Greater New York. The center has provided shelter to Ms.
Hardy and her two-year-old daughter Diamond for nearly
six months, but she looks forward to having her own
place very soon: "I want to give my daughter a home."
more...
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TRANSPORTATION
Safety Seat Fitting Station Helps Save
Children's Lives
Though they may not know
it, many kids in Montana are riding more safely in their
car seats thanks to the American Red Cross of Montana.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, the chapter's District
Office in Missoula offers a program to educate parents
about the proper way to have their child seated in a
motor vehicle. This includes a child safety seat fitting
station where technicians teach parents how to correctly
install child safety seats in their vehicles.
more...
Transportation Program Keeps
Seniors Independent and Healthy
After
retiring seven years ago, Harold Walton decided he
wanted to make a difference for people like himself.
That decision led him to volunteer two or three days a
week to drive a van that takes seniors to medical
appointments and meal sites. His contribution means a
great deal to the seniors that ride with him.
more...
Door-to-Door Service for
Seniors in Central New Jersey
Door-to-door
service is one of the advantages that seniors in central
New Jersey enjoy, courtesy of the American Red Cross of
Central New Jersey. The chapter is dedicated to helping
seniors "age in place" by enabling them to remain in
their own homes, free from institutionalization.
more...
A Free Ride in Arlington
County, Virginia
Whether it's a trip to
the doctor, the dentist's office or door-to-door
transportation for weekly grocery shopping, the American
Red Cross Arlington County Chapter can help.
more...
More than Just a Ride - The
WHEELS Program of Chisholm Trail
Seniors
and persons with disabilities have a safe way to reach
doctor's appointments, pharmacies and vocational
training thanks to the efforts of WHEELS drivers at the
American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter in Fort Worth,
TX.
more...
American Red Cross of the St.
Paul Area Provides Transportation Services
Being blind, using artificial legs, and
going to dialysis three times a week doesn't keep
Blanche Meek from being active – thanks to the American
Red Cross of the St. Paul Area. For 16 years, Blanche
has counted on volunteer drivers from the St. Paul,
Minnesota chapter to get her to and from dialysis
treatments as well as her volunteer work as a peer
counselor for the blind.
more...
Transportation Services Gave a
Child a Second Chance in West Central Michigan
When D'Angela Klyce was born, she weighed
a mere 1 pound 4 ounces. As she grew, D'Angela needed
many kinds of therapy to help her walk and breathe on
her own. Without the resources to drive from their home
to the much-needed doctors' visits, her family turned to
the American Red Cross of West Central Michigan for
help.
more...
WHEELS: A Driving Force in the
American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter
Since its inception in 1976, the WHEELS
program of the American Red Cross Louisville Area
Chapter has been providing transportation to older and
disabled persons to help meet the essential needs of
their physical and nutritional health.
more...
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SENIORS
Cape Cod Seniors Are Well Aware of
Storm Safety
The peninsula of Cape Cod
seems like an idyllic setting for an American Red Cross
chapter. Extending off the coast of Massachusetts, the
Cape is comprised of a string of seaside communities. A
popular resort for much of the east coast, the
population of the Cape more than triples in the summer.
Of the 205,000 year-round residents, a quarter to a
third are retired seniors. And year-round residents know
that the Cape's weather isn't always as hospitable as
during the summer season.
more...
Youth Volunteers Bring LIFE to
Their Community
After school, many
teenagers are busy playing Nintendo, talking on the
phone to their friends or watching television. The idea
of doing volunteer work instead of going to the mall may
be a foreign-if not bizarre-concept to them.
more...
Shopping Professionals Offer
Peace of Mind for Seniors
"Female. In her
80s. On Social Security. Has impaired vision and uses a
walker." This description is not of the average
retirement community member, but of the average client
in an innovative program that focuses on helping seniors
maintain independence and enjoy staying in their
homes.
more...
Red Cross Volunteers Keep the
Blues at Bay in Southwest Florida
Spending too much time alone can easily
bring on the blues. In fact, research conducted by the
American Red Cross of Southwest Florida shows that
isolation is frequently a precursor to depression among
those 65 years and older, sometimes leading to suicide.
more...
Supporting Caregivers Means
Providing Time Off
Sometimes, the best
way to help is by giving someone some much-needed time
off. At the American Red Cross Kansas Capital Area
Chapter, volunteers stay with elderly or frail clients
in order to give their family caregivers time to
themselves. Clients of the Respite Care Program often
find that caring for a family member's needs is a
24-hour task, and caregivers can lose their sense of
individuality, feeling locked into providing for their
loved one. The Respite Care Program allows caregivers
time for themselves.
more...
"Kind Ladies, God Bless" -
Volunteers Help Seniors Age in Place
Kathryn Szczepanik, proudly states the
she is "90 and a half years old." Despite visual
impairments that preclude her from shopping and
preparing nutritious meals, Szczepanik has been able to
continue living in her own home thanks to the American
Red Cross of Central New Jersey.
more...
"You People Are Heaven Sent! I
Don't Know What I'd Do Without My Red Cross Aides."
It is a typical muggy South Carolina
Lowcountry morning. It is already 87 degrees and the
heat index makes it feel more like 92. We knock on the
door of Mrs. Marie Medors' ground floor apartment and
receive a cheerful greeting from Tara Campbell, Red
Cross Personal Care Aide (PCA), and from Precious, Mrs.
Medors' lively little poodle.
more...
Seniors Give and Receive at
the American Red Cross Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter
For more than 28 years, the American Red Cross
Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter has provided congregate
and home-delivered meals to Pierce County seniors. Red
Cross Senior Lunch Sites offer warm and healthful food
and a welcoming environment for friends to socialize.
Last year, 5,000 seniors enjoyed meals at 18 Red Cross
Senior Lunch Sites thanks to the Tacoma-Pierce County
Chapter. Lunch sites also offer wellness programs such
as blood pressure or diabetes screenings.
more...
Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter
Provides SAGE Advice for Seniors
Senior
Advocacy, Guidance and Education (SAGE) Advice is a
speaker's bureau that provides ongoing practical
information and advice on issues of aging and senior
well-being to Pierce County, Washington residents.
Issues concerning seniors, such as aging, safety, elder
abuse, medication and health insurance coverage, affect
everyone. The proper treatment of seniors is an
intergenerational issue because it affects not only
seniors, but also their families and the community.
more...
The Friendly Neighbor Program
of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red
Cross
According to the National
Institutes of Health, depression in late life occurs
because of numerous social and physical problems. The
highest rate of depression occurs in homebound elderly
or those in nursing homes. The rates of new cases of
depression in nursing homes are striking: 13 percent of
residents develop a new episode of major depression
during the first year of entering a nursing home.
Another 18 percent develop new depressive symptoms.
more...
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LIFELINE
Lifeline Makes a Difference in St.
Louis
Volunteer Clayton Fenter is often
reminded of the value of Lifeline, a safety service
provided by his local American Red Cross chapter for
people who live alone. Every day, Lifeline brings a
sense of security to users and their loved ones,
according to the St. Louis resident. But one particular
afternoon stands out in his memory more than others.
more...
HOSPITALS/NURSING
HOMES
Animal
Assisted Therapy Brings Love and
Companionship
Maggie Wiskeyman may not be
the oldest nor the youngest Red Cross volunteer but
she's likely the furriest. For two years, Maggie, a
golden retriever, and her human mom, Ginny Wiskeyman,
visited Dean Martin at the Audubon Villa nursing home in
Lititz, Pa.
more...
In Surgical Waiting Rooms and
Intensive Care Units, Volunteers Ease the Pain of
Waiting
Going in for surgery can be a
bewildering experience for a patient and for friends and
family members who await news of their loved one's
condition. But patients going in for surgery at two
hospitals in Corpus Christi, Texas, receive a pleasant
surprise in the form of Red Cross volunteers.
more...
A Brighter Day for Hospital
Patients Thanks to Volunteers from the American Red
Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter
The American
Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter provides services to 12
southwest Missouri counties. In Taney County, more than
100 volunteers give 10,000 hours of service annually at
a local hospital in Branson, Missouri. Many of the Taney
County volunteers have been active with the Red Cross
for a number of years; two have been involved with the
chapter since its charter in 1957. Mary Capstick has
been a Red Cross volunteer for 14 years. She helps
brighten the day for hospital patients by making
creative tray favors out of greeting cards and other
materials.
more...
Volunteers of the American Red
Cross of the Susquehanna Valley Lend a Hand at Area
Hospitals
Red Cross volunteers have been
assisting area hospitals since the early 1900s when the
influenza epidemic hit Pennsylvania. Today more than 240
volunteers from the American Red Cross of the
Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania lend a caring hand to
help make a patient's stay at the hospital as pleasant
as possible.
more...
Volunteers from the American
Red Cross of Central Oklahoma Add a Special Touch to a
Local Hospital
Before the arrival of
volunteers from the American Red Cross of Central
Oklahoma 10 years ago, patients and visitors to the
Veterans Administration Hospital were left to find
information on their own. Today, approximately 16
dedicated Red Cross volunteers help patients and
visitors by greeting and assisting them with questions
that may include directions to appointments or patients'
rooms, answering phone calls and connecting callers to
the room of a family member or friend who has been
admitted as a patient.
more...
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NEWS AND
PROFILES
Friendly Visitors Help Seniors
Connect
Imagine living in the world where
no one can understand you. Imagine calling out for help
and no one comes to your rescue. This is not a dream,
but a reality for Ngan who is a sight-impaired senior
from Vietnam living in the city of Alexandria.
more...
Opportunities are Limitless
for Two Tacoma-Pierce Volunteers
A lot of
people would consider these two women "disabled," but
both are very active, very able volunteers making
significant contributions to their community.
more...
Volunteer Dick Bylund Is a
Lifeline to Residents of the St. Louis Area
A number of years ago, Dick Bylund lay
recovering in a hospital bed after suffering a massive
heart attack. The stress of working as a regional
manager for a high-tech medical equipment company had
contributed to his condition, so he knew that returning
to work was not an option. Bylund is also an active man,
and sitting home day after day seemed an unappealing way
to spend his retirement.
more...
Greater Houston Area East End
Branch - A Visionary Chapter
When she was
11 years old, Ana J. was finally able to see the sky,
thanks in part to the American Red Cross Greater Houston
Area Chapter. Ana, her parents and three siblings had
recently arrived from El Salvador when they walked into
the East End Branch Office of the Greater Houston Area
Chapter on a sunny day in 1986.
more...
A Real Red Cross Lifesaver
The American Red Cross Senior Nutrition
Program is more than just a meal. Through dedicated
volunteers like Jim Updike, 83, and programs like Home
Delivered Meals, sponsored by the American Red Cross
Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter, the American Red Cross
saves lives.
more...
American Red Cross Berkshire
County Chapter: More than a Century of Community Service
The American Red Cross Berkshire County
Chapter has provided services to residents of the
largest county in Massachusetts for 105 years, providing
solutions for critical issues facing the Berkshires. The
chapter provides a variety of Community Services,
including transportation to get people to and from
medical appointments, shelter and case work for homeless
individuals, comprehensive assistance for individuals
and families directly affected by HIV and AIDS, an
HIV/AIDS education program at the Berkshire County House
of Corrections, Elder Caregiving Programs, and programs
that feed the hungry.
more...
The St. Louis Area Chapter of
the American Red Cross: Committed to Its Communities
through Humanitarian Services
The American
Red Cross provides a wide range of humanitarian services
to help communities avoid, prepare for and respond to
emergencies. Some American Red Cross chapters maintain a
strong presence in their communities by creating and
administering a variety of Community Services such as
homeless services, services for seniors, a support
program for caregivers and transportation services that
meet the specific needs of local residents.
more...
American Red Cross of the St.
Paul Area: Proud of the Past and Focused on the Future
The American Red Cross of the St. Paul
(Minnesota) Area responds to the needs of a diverse
community with quality and compassion. The St. Paul Area
Red Cross touches the lives of hundreds-of-thousands of
people in four counties in the East Metro Area of the
Twin Cities. The chapter provides a variety of
traditional programs and innovative community services.
more...
The American Red Cross of
Greater Rochester -- Celebrating 120 Years of Community
Service
During the past century, the
American Red Cross of Greater Rochester has made a habit
of working with other local organizations to communicate
the message of saving lives and helping those in need.
Rochester, the second Red Cross chapter founded by Clara
Barton, celebrates its 120th year of service to the
Monroe County community this year and plans to continue
its commitment by expanding its reach to educate and aid
the community.
more...
The Midway-Kansas Chapter of
the American Red Cross: Reaching Out through Innovative
Community Service Programs
The wide range
of humanitarian services provided by the American Red
Cross extends well beyond natural disaster relief and
blood drives. Some American Red Cross chapters maintain
a strong presence in their communities by creating and
administering a variety of Community Services such as
homeless services, services for seniors, a support
program for caregivers and transportation services
tailored to the specific needs of local residents.
more...
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HELPING IN OTHER
WAYS
Prescription Assistance During Tough
Times
American Red Cross worker Lisa
Geitner of Bradford, Pa., has seen many people, young
and old, benefit from her chapter's unique prescription
assistance program. But some of the cases stand out in
her memory a bit more than the others - like the college
student who contacted the chapter for help in paying for
his medication. His case was unusual, because most
students have ample medical coverage.
more...
Youth Corp Offers Helping
Hands in Gibson County, Indiana
What do
working at the animal shelter, visiting nursing homes,
helping at a clothing bank and setting up a disaster
shelter have in common? They're all activities of the
American Red Cross of Gibson County Youth Corp.
more...
Grand Canyon Chapter
Encourages Leadership, Safety and Camaraderie at
Camp
On a bright Sunday afternoon in July,
90 campers clamored off of buses and out of cars, trucks
and vans to begin the first Youth Leadership and Safety
Camp sponsored by the American Red Cross Grand Canyon
Chapter and the Phelps Dodge Foundation. During this
six-day program, campers ages 15-18 lived in groups of
ten that were referred to as families. Each camp family
included two volunteer counselors.
more...
In the Rappahannock Area of
Virginia, Santa Delivers
"This is Ciarra.
My Mom has an illness and can't get that much this year
and I would like a few things if that's possible."
more...
Job Training Reaches People
Aged 16 to 60
Red Cross assistance often
means more than disaster relief or blood banks. Today's
American Red Cross is reaching out to communities with
programs specifically designed to help those who need it
most. In Rochester, NY, that help is found in adult and
youth vocational programs.
more...
Whether You Say Hello, Hola,
Hallo, Ciao or Ave, the Greater Miami and The Keys
Language Bank Is There for You
One of the
most unique characteristics about South Florida is its
cultural diversity. People from all ethnic backgrounds
bring their cultures together to form the "Melting Pot"
upon which our country is founded. Sometimes, the
diversity of the South Florida area presents special
communication challenges in helping people who have been
affected by disasters such as home fires and hurricanes.
more...
Volunteers of the Greater
Houston Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Provide
Warmth and Caring to Those in Need
Volunteers of the Greater Houston Area
Chapter of the American Red Cross bring their
significant talents to the table by sewing, knitting and
crocheting for people in need. For nearly two decades,
the ladies' club at Willow Meadows Baptist Church in
Southwest Houston have joined other Red Cross volunteers
to sew gowns at Christmas for the newborns at LBJ
Hospital. "When I sit down to sew, I begin to think
about the child who will wear the gown. Maybe I'll never
see that child, but I pray for the Lord to bless them
since they are coming into the world with so little,"
says volunteer Cora Kitchell. "It weighs heavy on my
heart."
more...
American Red Cross Joins
Forces with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
The American Red Cross and the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have
embarked on a collaborative effort that will help
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries become safer,
healthier and more self-reliant.
more...
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INDEX OF STORIES
BY STATE
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
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